Hunt for dead bikie kingpin Erkan ’Eric the Wolf’ Keskin’s hidden criminal fortune

Dead bikie kingpin Erkan Keskin is estimated to be worth up to $300 million. Here’s why his hidden criminal fortune remains untouched.

The illegal fortune amassed by former Sydney bikie and drug lord Erkan “Eric the Wolf‘’ Keskin was so well hidden that the NSW Crime Commission was never able to get near any of his estimated $200m-$300m wealth.

“It is the case that on several occasions the Commission has investigated Keskin’s financial situation with a view to bringing criminal proceeds confiscation proceedings,’’ said the head of the NSW Crime Commission Michael Barnes.

“However, no significant real property, assets or cash was located,’’ he said.

Late Lone Wolf bikie leader Erkan Keskin at Downing Centre Court in Sydney.

Keskin, 44, died from a suspected heart attack in Turkey on Monday and was one of the country's most feared crime figures believed to be behind more than six underworld executions and was still in control of the Lone Wolf bikie gang despite fleeing Australia in 2019.

“While he has frequently been the subject of intelligence reports suggesting his involvement in organised crime, Keskin has never been convicted of offences that would come within the definition of Serious Crime Related Activity as is necessary to fund Criminal Assets Recovery Act proceedings,” Mr Barnes said.

Keskin, a father of four, who lived in Dubai and then Turkey was importing large amounts of drugs into Australia and ruled his organisation through fear. His death will have serious effects on the bikie landscape in Sydney where 22 high-profile gangsters have been slain in underworld executions since 2009.

Both police and underworld sources said without Keskin the Lone Wolf bikie gang’s power will be severely lessened.

“Without his reputation and more importantly his money they will slide down the ladder,’’ said a former bikie.

“There is already talk some of them might patch over to the Commos (Comanchero) or even the Bandidos,’’ he said.

There is also the strong likelihood of an internal conflict now that Keskin is gone.

“His base was with the chapter in Arncliffe but there is a guy with a lot of support from the Auburn area, who is due out of jail soon and still has a lot of guys loyal to him. There will be drama not just over who will be boss, but trying to get hold of his money. There will be outstanding debts for people who have been given drugs on credit who will try and get out of paying. It’s always a shitfight when a high ranking bloke dies or goes inside for a long time,’’ he said.

A senior NSW police officer agreed the power base of the Lone Wolf will be weakened by the death of Keskin.

“It happens when forceful leaders like him go. It happened with the Rebels when Alex Vella was refused a visa to come back into Australia, it happened to some extent when Mick Hawie was boss of the Comanchero and was jailed over the airport brawl. It wasn't till Mark Buddle took over that they started to get a bit of a rep again as being a force,’’ he said.

Keskin was known as an APOT – Australian Priority Organisation Target – which is a list of the most wanted Australian criminals being hunted across the world considered by the nations law enforcement agencies to be a threat to the national ­interest.